How to hire a marine superintendent

How to hire a marine superintendent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step marine superintendent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a marine superintendent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new marine superintendent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a marine superintendent, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A marine superintendent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, marine superintendents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of marine superintendent salaries for various roles:

   Type of Marine Superintendent	Description	Hourly rate
   Marine Superintendent		$19-57
   Transportation Manager	A transportation manager is a professional who is responsible for directing and managing tasks that involves all the transportation activities within the organization. Transportation managers must ensure that goods and passengers have reached their destination safely by inspecting and providing maintenance to the organization's vehicles... Show more	$25-53
   Terminal Manager	Terminal managers are professionals who are responsible for managing workers and direct dispatching activities of logistics vehicles. These managers are required to develop relationships with corporate and operational departments so that they can ensure the company logistics standards are met... Show more	$26-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cost Control
   • Vessel Operations
   • Labor Agreements
   • Longshore
   • ISM
   • Labor Relations
   • USCG
   • ISO
   • ABS

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize and maintain GPS, dive beacons, and sonar equipment in order to achieve safe and cost-effective positioning.
   • Present reports every morning to the COC personnel, pilots, and exercise evaluation officers as part of the morning brief.
   • Monitor major maintenance perform on berth.
   • Perform minor maintenace duties as necesary to ensure berth functions maintain its realibility.
   • Research concentrate on biological oceanography, marine ecology and the physical anatomy and behavior of marine mammals and birds.
   • Perform minor maintenace duties as necesary to ensure berth functions maintain its realibility.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your marine superintendent job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A marine superintendent salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a marine superintendent in Colorado may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level marine superintendent usually earns less than a senior-level marine superintendent. Additionally, a marine superintendent with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average marine superintendent salary

   $71,153yearly

   $34.21 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level marine superintendent salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average marine superintendent salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Florida	$79,658	$38
   2	Washington	$79,405	$38
   3	Washington	$79,139	$38
   4	Texas	$75,961	$37
   5	Maryland	$74,257	$36
   6	Oregon	$71,428	$34
   7	Alabama	$70,560	$34
   8	Hawaii	$57,363	$28

   Average marine superintendent salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kiewit	$75,142	$36.13	373

4. Writing a marine superintendent job description

   A good marine superintendent job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a marine superintendent job description:

   Marine superintendent job description example

   **Job Level: Mid Level**
   
   **Department: Construction Operations**
   
   **Market: Transportation**
   
   **Employment Type: Full Time**
   
   **Position Overview**
   
   As a Superintendent you will play a significant part in the success for Kiewit. You will function as a field supervisor and may have responsibility for multiple Foreman, and/or laborers/craft workers. You with be responsible for the organization, work methods, scheduling, cost control, conformity with drawings and specification, workmanship, and assignment of work to accomplish the execution of the work, either directly or through General Foreman or Foreman. You will also work to maintain positive working relationships with clients, architect/engineer, suppliers, subcontractors, and jobsite staff.
   
   Our mission is to make a difference and we offer opportunities for you to make one too through our construction operations. Whether we're boring tunnels through mountains, turning rivers into energy or building bridges that connect communities, we depend on our passionate, skilled, and safety-obsessed construction professionals to get it done right. You bring your big ideas, commitment to top quality, and an unwavering work ethic. In return, we offer huge career and travel opportunities and the satisfaction of building the next big thing from the ground up. There's a reason Kiewit attracts the best: we offer fast-paced excitement and fulfillment you won't find anywhere else.
   
   **District Overview**
   
   Kiewit's Bridge & Marine District headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, operates with heavy civil, marine, and industrial capabilities across North America. We are a leader in technical and traditional bridges, bridge like structures, marine structures, and dredge work. Kiewit Bridge & Marine is also the foremost constructor of floating bridges across the United States.
   
   **Location**
   
   We currently have work all across the country in large cities and small towns, so our people must be willing to go where the work is. Job assignment location will be determined closer to your start date. Must be able to travel and relocate as business requires. Some of our current projects locations include Washington, Hawaii and Alaska.
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   • Mentor and help to grow Jr. Superintendents
   
   • Review and approve the balance of Foremen, journeymen and laborer's composite labor rates
   
   • Manage contract administration (subcontractor/field management meeting for communication)
   
   • Develop a program to maintain good client relations involving staff on site
   
   • Initiate and attend supplementary and regular meeting with client for problem resolution and planning
   
   • Oversee and approve the monthly job cost updates and quarterly cash flow projections
   
   • Review, approve and negotiate change orders
   
   • Develop and implement a plan for project completion and turnover
   
   • Maintain daily diary for record keeping purposes
   
   • Ensure that all performance evaluations and completed in a timely fashion for direct reports
   
   • Recommend, where appropriate, organizational, policy and procedural or staff changes
   
   • Review and approve or reject promotions up to General Foremen.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   • 8+ years' construction experience with 3+ years being in a Superintendent/Leadership capacity (preferably working on infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, water/wastewater treatment plants etc.)
   
   • Must be a self-starter, highly motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
   
   • Ability to quickly learn and understand various processes regarding Kiewit's policies, procedures and software programs.
   
   • Ability to identify and resolve any problems that may arise.
   
   • Excellent organizational, administrative, communication and interpersonal skills.
   
   • Strong experience in Leadership, safety, negotiations, planning, and contract administration.
   
   _We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law._
   
   Company: Kiewit

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right marine superintendent for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your marine superintendent job on Zippia to find and recruit marine superintendent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with marine superintendent candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new marine superintendent

   Once you have selected a candidate for the marine superintendent position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new marine superintendent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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